Community Leadership Essay

Community Leadership

Kolsow, D.R. Chapter 8:

The chapter begins by pointing out that the development of community leadership skills is an integrated, and often complicated, process. The second component of this is the acknowledgement that leadership is a learned skill rather than an inherent one obtained by "birthright." The effective involvement of local leaders in their communities leads to the effective functioning of such communities, which makes a focus on developing such leadership essential.

One particular approach to leadership the author considers as highly effective in terms of building and sustaining communities is by means of the task force. In addition to enthusiasm for the task at hand, particular advantages of the task force approach include: a specific time frame for concentrated activity, collaborative group work, and creating a network of influence. The author also mentions specific concerns that relate to task forces, including population growth, workforce planning, and local education improvement, among others. The author also points out that task forces tend to be planners and thinkers rather than doers. As such, the role of the task force is to create a basis for action rather than to take action as a team.

Another important leadership group includes the board of directors within local development organizations.The function of the board, like the task force, is to set policy and evaluate results, while active implementation is the task of staff members.

In a general discussion of community and development, the author points out that effective leadership and planning are essential for actions and practical decisions to be sound catalysts of community economic development. With good leadership, rash decisions regarding development will be less likely. The conclusion is that there is a regrettable lack of effective leadership within communities, but that this can be remedied by careful planning.

Hyde, M. And Chavis, D. Chapter 11:

The chapter begins with a brief overview of what it means to be part of a community. The authors note that a sense of community means that people feel they belong within a group. Such a feeling leads to a sense of safety, emotional and physical resilience, and can be a catalyst for change. The quality of community interactions dictates the strength and cohesion of the community involved.

The second part of the chapter considers theories that attempt to define the concept of community. The authors point out that there are two main categories in….....